This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Hazleton City Anti-Litter Ordinance."
[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Hazleton 11-16-1995 by Ord. No. 95-18 as Ch. 158 of the 1995 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. AIRCRAFT AUTHORIZED PRIVATE RECEPTACLE COMMERCIAL HANDBILL(1) (2) (3) (4) GARBAGE LITTER NEWSPAPER NONCOMMERCIAL HANDBILL PARK PRIVATE PREMISES PUBLIC PLACE REFUSE RUBBISH VEHICLE
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein:
Any contrivance now known or hereafter invented, used or designated for navigation or for flight in the air. The word "aircraft" shall include helicopters and lighter-than-air dirigibles and balloons.
A litter storage and collection receptacle approved by the City administration.
Any printed or written matter, any sample or device, dodger, circular, leaflet, pamphlet, paper, booklet or any other printed or otherwise reproduced original or copies of any matter of literature:
Which advertises for sale any merchandise, product, commodity or thing;
Which directs attention to any business or mercantile or commercial establishment or other activity, for the purpose of either directly or indirectly promoting the interest therein by sales;
Which directs attention to or advertises any meeting, theatrical performance, exhibition or event of any kind, for which an admission fee is charged for the purpose of private gain or profit; but the terms of this subsection shall not apply where an admission fee is charged or a collection is taken up for the purpose of defraying the expenses incident to such meeting, theatrical performance, exhibition or event of any kind, when either of the same is held, given or takes place in connection with the dissemination of information which is not restricted under the ordinary rules of decency, good morals, public peace, safety and good order. Nothing contained in this subsection shall be deemed to authorize the holding, giving or taking place of any meeting, theatrical performance, exhibition or event of any kind, without a license, where such license is or may be required by any law of this state or under any ordinance of this City; or
Which, while containing reading matter other than advertising matter, is predominantly and essentially an advertisement and is distributed or circulated for advertising purposes or for the private benefit and gain of any person so engaged as advertiser or distributor.
Putrescible animal and vegetable wastes resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
Garbage, refuse and rubbish, as defined in this section, and all other waste material which, if thrown or deposited as prohibited in this chapter, tends to create a danger to public health, safety and welfare.
Any newspaper of general circulation as defined by general law, any newspaper duly entered with the United States Postal Service, in accordance with federal statute or regulations, and any newspaper filed and recorded with any recording officer as provided by general law. In addition, such term shall mean and include any periodical or current magazine regularly published with not less than four issues per year and sold to the public.
Any printed or written matter or any sample, device, dodger, circular, leaflet, pamphlet, newspaper, magazine, paper, booklet or any other printed or otherwise reproduced original or copies of any matter of literature not included in the aforesaid definitions of a "commercial handbill" or "newspaper."
A park, reservation, playground, beach, recreation center or any other public area in the City, owned or used by the City and devoted to active or passive recreation.
Any dwelling, house, building or other structure designed or used either wholly or in part for private residential purposes, whether inhabited or temporarily or continuously uninhabited or vacant, and shall include any yard, grounds, walk, driveway, porch, steps, vestibule or mailbox belonging or appurtenant to such dwelling, house, building or other structure.
Any and all streets, sidewalks, boulevards, alleys or other public ways and any and all public parks, squares, spaces, grounds and buildings.
All putrescible and nonputrescible solid wastes (except body wastes), including garbage, rubbish, ashes, street cleanings, dead animals, abandoned automobiles and solid market and industrial wastes.
Nonputrescible solid waste consisting of both combustible and noncombustible wastes, such as paper, wrappings, cigarettes, cardboard, tin cans, yard clippings, leaves, wood, glass, bedding, crockery and similar materials.
Every device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, including devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.
B.
When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words used in the plural number include the singular number, and words used in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
A.
No person shall throw or deposit litter in or upon any street, sidewalk or other public place within the City except in public receptacles or in authorized private receptacles for collection.
B.
No person shall sweep into or deposit in any gutter, street or other public place within the City the accumulation of litter from any building or lot or from any public or private sidewalk or driveway.
C.
No person owning or occupying a place of business or residence shall sweep into or deposit in any gutter, street or other public place within the City of Hazleton the accumulation of litter from any building or lot or from any public or private sidewalk or driveway. Persons owning or occupying places of business or residence within the City of Hazleton shall keep the sidewalk in front of their business or residence premises free of litter. This shall include, but not be limited to, any and all debris from cinders, rocks or any other debris upon the sidewalk.
[Amended 10-28-1999 by Ord. No. 99-13]
No person shall throw or deposit litter in any park within the City except in public receptacles and in such a manner that the litter will be prevented from being carried or deposited by the elements upon any part of the park or upon any street or other public place. Where public receptacles are not provided, all such litter shall be carried away from the park by the person responsible for its presence and properly disposed of elsewhere.
No person shall throw or deposit litter in any fountain, stream or other body of water in a park or elsewhere within the City.
A.
Posting notices prohibited. No person shall post or affix any notice, poster or any other paper or device calculated to attract the attention of the public to any lamppost, public utility pole, street sign, stop sign, traffic sign or signal or public shade tree, or upon any public land or any public structure or building, except as may be authorized or required by law.
B.
Exceptions. In accordance with election law, political posters may be posted, on Election Day, on public property which has been designated as a polling place.
C.
Permits or fees not required. No permits or fees shall be required for political advertising to be placed on private property.
No person shall throw or deposit litter on any occupied private property within the City, whether owned by such person or not, except that the owner or person in control of private property may maintain authorized private receptacles for collection in such a manner that litter will be prevented from being carried or deposited by the elements upon any street, sidewalk or other public place or upon any private property.
No person shall throw or deposit litter on any open or vacant private property within the City, whether owned by such person or not.
The owner or person in control of any private property shall at all times maintain the premises free of litter. This section shall not prohibit the storage of litter in authorized private receptacles for collection.
A.
The City administration is hereby authorized and empowered to notify the owner of any open or vacant private property within the City, or the agent of such owner, to properly dispose of litter located on such owner's property which is dangerous to public health, safety or welfare. Such notice shall be by registered mail, addressed to such owner at his last known address.
B.
Upon the failure, neglect or refusal of any owner or agent notified pursuant to Subsection A to properly dispose of litter dangerous to the public health, safety or welfare within 10 days after receipt of such notice, or within 10 days after the date of such notice in the event the same is returned to the City post office because of its inability to make delivery thereof, provided that the same was properly addressed to the last known address of such owner or agent, the City is hereby authorized and empowered to pay for the disposing of such litter or to order its disposal by the City.
C.
When the City has effected the removal of dangerous litter or has paid for its removal under the provisions of Subsection B, the actual cost thereof, plus accrued interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the date of the completion of the work, if not paid by such owner prior thereto, shall be charged to the owner of such property on the next regular tax bill forwarded to such owner by the City, and such charge shall be due and payable by such owner at the time of payment of such bill.
D.
Where the full amount due the City is not paid by such owner within 10 days after the disposal of such litter as provided for in this section, the City shall cause to be recorded in the prothonotary's office of Luzerne County a sworn statement showing the cost and expense incurred for the work, the date of the completion of the work and the location of the property on which the work was done. The recordation of such sworn statement shall constitute a lien and privilege on the property and shall remain in full force and effect for the amount due in principal and interest, plus costs of court, if any, for collection until final payment has been made. Such costs and expenses shall be collected in the manner fixed by law for the collection of taxes and shall be subject to a delinquent penalty of 6% if not paid in full on or before the date the tax bill upon which such charge appears becomes delinquent. Sworn statements recorded in accordance with the provisions thereof shall be prima facie evidence that all legal formalities have been complied with and that the work has been done properly and satisfactorily and shall be full notice to every person concerned that the amount of the statement, plus interest, constitutes a charge against the property designated or described in the statement and that the same is due and collectible as provided by law.
Persons owning or occupying property or places of business within the City shall keep the sidewalk in front of their premises free of litter.
Persons placing litter in public receptacles or in authorized private receptacles shall do so in such a manner as to prevent it from being carried or deposited by the elements upon any street, sidewalk or other public place or upon any private property.
No person, while a driver or passenger in a vehicle, shall throw or deposit litter upon any street or other public place within the City or upon private property.
No person shall drive or move any truck or other vehicle within the City unless such vehicle is so constructed or covered as to prevent any load, contents or litter from being blown or deposited upon any street, alley or other public place, nor shall any person drive or move any vehicle or truck within the City the wheels or tires of which carry onto or deposit in any street, alley or other public place, mud, dirt, sticky substances, litter or foreign matter of any kind.
No person in an aircraft shall throw out, drop or deposit within the City any litter or any other object.
No person shall throw or deposit any commercial or noncommercial handbill in or upon sidewalk, street or other public place within the City, nor shall any person hand out or distribute or sell any commercial handbill in any public place. It shall not be unlawful, on any sidewalk, street or other public place within the City, for any person to hand out or distribute, without charge to the receiver thereof, any noncommercial handbill to any person willing to accept it.
No person shall throw or deposit any commercial or noncommercial handbill in or upon any vehicle. It shall not be unlawful, in any public place, for a person to hand out or distribute, without charge to the receiver thereof, a noncommercial handbill to any occupant of a vehicle who is willing to accept it.
No person shall throw or deposit any commercial or noncommercial handbill in or upon any private premises which is temporarily or continuously uninhabited or vacant.
A.
No person shall throw, deposit or distribute any commercial or noncommercial handbill in or upon private premises which are inhabited, except by handling or transmitting any such handbill directly to the owner, occupant or other person then present in or upon such private premises; provided, however, that in case of inhabited private premises which are not posted, as provided in § 268-20, such person, unless requested by anyone upon such premises not to do so, may place or deposit any such handbill in or upon such inhabited private premises if such handbill is so placed or deposited as to secure or prevent such handbill from being blown or drifted about such premises or sidewalks, streets or other pubic places, but mailboxes may not be so used when so prohibited by federal postal law or regulations.
B.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to the distribution of mail by the United States, nor to newspapers, except that newspapers shall be placed on private property in such a manner as to prevent their being carried or deposited by the elements upon any street, sidewalk or other public place or upon private property.
No person shall throw, deposit or distribute any commercial or noncommercial handbill upon any private premises if requested by anyone thereon not to do so, or if there is placed on such premises, in a conspicuous position near the entrance thereof, a sign bearing the words "No Trespassing," "No Peddlers or Agents," "No Advertisement" or any similar notice, indicating in any manner that the occupants of such premises do not desire to be molested or have their right of privacy disturbed or to have any such handbills left upon such premises.
No person in any aircraft shall throw out, drop or deposit any handbill within the City.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a penalty as set forth in Chapter 1, Article II, Violations and Penalties. Each and every day upon which any person violates or continues to violate the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a separate offense.